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What are Natural Lip Care products?

Lips are regularly bombarded by a number of environmental stressors, from harsh winds to damaging UV rays, resulting in dryness, chapping and even sunburn. Those who wear non-natural lip products may expose their lips to a number of synthetic chemical compounds that may accelerate the normal effects of aging and exacerbate environmental damage.**

Studies show that the average woman uses about 25 beauty or personal care products each day, resulting in exposure to more than 200 different chemicals – many of which are toxins that may increase the body’s toxic load. Every day, individuals who use lipstick, lip gloss, lip balms and other lip products ingest an average of 24 milligrams of product per day. For those who re-apply the products frequently or use large amounts, this number may quadruple to 87 milligrams per day. Over a lifetime, that adds up to about four pounds of ingested lip products.**

As cosmetics aren’t regulated by the FDA, 89 percent of the more-than 10,500 ingredients commonly used in these products have not been assessed for safety. Recent tests of non-natural lip care products, including lipsticks and lip glosses commonly sold in drug and department stores, found that they contained potentially unsafe levels of heavy metals such as lead, aluminum, cadmium, chromium and arsenic. Three-quarters of the lipsticks tested in a 2013 study contained lead, a substance that is toxic to the central nervous system, and in almost 50 percent of the samples, lead levels were above FDA safety standards.**

Many non-natural products also contain a range of toxins, including carcinogens such as parabens, titanium dioxide, BHA and BHT. The common ingredients phenoxyethanol and zinc oxide have been linked to respiratory problems, as has butylparaben, a known endocrine system and reproductive hormone disruptor. Other hormone-disrupting ingredients commonly found in lip products include oxybenzone, aluminum hydroxide, octinoxate and retinyl palmitate.**

These chemical additives are harmful enough on their own, but when the body is exposed to thousands of them over time, they build up, creating a toxic load that may lead to detrimental health consequences, such as inflammation, irritation, sun damage, and dry, chapped skin. Toxins in non-natural lip products may harm the environment as well, both in terms of bio-accumulation in soil and water, and during the manufacturing process. As awareness of these health, beauty and environment issues rises, so does the demand for natural lip products.**

Natural lip products are derived from botanical and natural ingredients, rather than manufactured from chemicals in a lab. Ingredients such as olive oil and beeswax act as natural emollients, gently moisturizing and nourishing lips, while replacing harmful mineral oils and petroleum products. Some products also contain antioxidants such as vitamin E; these natural compounds fight the damaging effects of free radicals, which cause cellular damage and exacerbate the signs of aging.**

Aloe Lip Balm: For hundreds of years, aloe vera has been prized for its skin soothing properties and its ability to speed healing of wounds and sunburns. This succulent plant supplies inflammation-modulating, antibacterial and antifungal compounds; studies indicate that aloe also helps maintain healthy skin around the lips. Many aloe lip balms also contain sunscreen, adding another layer of protection against harmful UV rays.**

Lysine/Zinc/Vitamin E Cream for Cold Sores: Cold sores come from the herpes simplex virus or HSV-1, a common virus that’s carried by an estimated 85% of Americans. Studies indicate that the amino acid lysine inhibits the normal growth cycles of HSV-1, reducing the length of time a cold sore lasts. Often, lysine is blended with the immune-supportive nutrients zinc and vitamin E, a combination that is believed to shorten the healing time for cold sores.**

Natural Lip Care Products

Lip care supplements may be available for topical use in balm, cream or lipstick form.

Natural Lip Care Products Directions for Use

Lip products supply varying amounts of active nutrients, so there is no set dosage. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting supplementation.**